H.—2

20

TABLE I. —Public Libraries.

• The population given in this column does not Bhow the total population of the colony, for the inhabitants of various islands adjacent to New Zealand and outside education districts are not included. The Auckland Board classifies its expenditure as follows : Amount to cover excess of expenditure over the previous year's vote, £70 13s. ; 4 borough libraries, atlOs. per pound of voluntary subscriptions for 1878, £175 10s.; 66 country libraries, at 15s. 6d. per pound of subscriptions, £682 12s. 6d.; 4 school libraries, at 15s. 6d. per pound of subscriptions, £16 13s. 3d.; to meet further claims, £11 Is. 9d.: total as above, £956 10s. 6d. In each of the other education districts the grants to the libraries were made at a uniform rate per pound of voluntary subscriptions. The Auckland Board makes the grants on the following conditions : All grants are to be allotted in books to be purchased by the Board; lists of books are to be submitted by the library committees for the Board's approval; borough and country libraries are to be incorporated. With a vicAV to facilitate the incorporation of the libraries the Board has issued a circular setting forth the steps necessary to be taken for this purpose under " The Public Libraries PoAvers Act, 1875." The Board also furnishes printed copies of the forms of declaration required by the Act referred to. With a view to assist the public libraries in supplying their wants fully and economically, the Board of Otago obtains large supplies of suitable and strongly-bound books direct from Britain. Library committees are at liberty to purchase with their OAvn funds books from the Board's stock or otherwise, and a free grant of books is made to the committee at the rate per pound of voluntary subscriptions upon Avhich the subsidy is based. An opportunity is also afforded to the library committees to procure from the Home Country, through the Board, such particular books, not already in the Board's stock, as they may desire to obtain. The reports of the Boards furnish with greater or less fulness information respecting the public libraries in their respective districts. The Board of Hawke's Bay has furnished a report on its libraries under the following heads : Hoav managed ; number of subscribers ; subscriptions for 1878; number of books, classified under Historical, Scientific, Travels, Fiction, General; English and colonial papers; books added during the year. Steps Avill be taken to secure in future reports more specific information respecting the public libraries in regard to such points as the folloAving : The number of subscribers and readers; the terms of membership ; the number and character of the books and periodicals available and read; and the influence which the libraries are believed to be exercising. School Savings Banks. It is provided by the Education Act that School Committees, with the approval of the Board, may establish savings banks for the use of the children attending the public schools. With a view to secure uniformity in the keeping of the accounts of school saA rings banks, Government has decided to supply every approved bank with deposit-books and Avith the first ledger and journal free of charge, and with subsequent ledgers and journals at cost price. The Boards have accordingly

Distribution of Vote of *5,000. Absti •act of Board's Returns. Education Disibicts. Population.* Board's Proportions. Number of Libraries Subsidized. Local Subscriptions for Year 1878. Grants by Boards. Expensesfa) or Unappropriated Balances, lb) Total of Grants to Boards. Auckland Taranaki ... Wanganui Wellington Hawke's Bay Marlborough Nelson North Canterbury South Canterbury Westland Otago Southland 79,140 7,376 18,748 34,398 18,014 6,775 22,042 75,810 17,469 19,433 91,010 23,459 £ s. d. 956 10 6 89 3 0 226 12 0 415 15 0 217 14 6 81 17 8 266 8 3 916 5 7 211 2 9 235 0 0 1,100 0 0 283 10 9 74 6 8 10 13 3 22 61 7 8 53 6 £ s. d. 1,252 12 4 68 4 0 520 1 9 735 16 11 348 12 6 182 0 4 392 0 5 1,453 19 8 199 19 9 484 10 7 1,436 11 0 224 19 6 £ e. d. 945 8 9 89 3 0 223 3 4 409 10 0 210 0 0 80 17 8 266 8 3 908 14 7 206 3 3 235 0 0 1,081 17 9 224 19 0 £ s. a. ill 1 9 a3 8 8 o6 5 0 «7 14 6 il 0 0 £ s. A. 956 10 6 89 3 0 226 12 0 415 15 0 217 14 6 81 17 8 266 8 3 916 5 7 211 2 9 235 0 0 1,100 0 0 283 10 9 al 11 0 ai 19 6 <zl8 2 3 J58 11 3 Total 413,684 5,000 0 0 271 7,299 7 11 4,881 6 1 118 13 11 5,000 0 0